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Welcome to the Afterlife.

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It's All Ogre Now

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Thank you all for your participation, support, love, art, writing, and general awesomeness. We all had a blast together, and hope to see you again soon!

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"Endgame" - Finale

Eventually every student made their way through the gate to where they were meant to be. Only Daichi, Wauna and Saaras remained. The three looked at each other silently. Finally, it was Wauna that spoke up.

"You did well, dovely. I... hope you don't hold anything against me."

"Of course not. You also did well."

"Cygnet-- No, Daichi. We may not remember each other next time, but... we'll get through. We always do."

"We make a good team, you and I. I'll see you soon. Both of you."

Daichi walked toward the gate, ready to go through. Don't trip, he reminded himself sardonically, smile growing bigger for a moment.

"Let's try this again, shall we?"

[onceuponatribulation-blog]

Well, if I've been dead, I don't matter| Endgame

Honestly, Persephone wasn't sure what to make of...any of this. They were dead the whole time? She couldn't move on? It honestly didn't seem 'fair', given how she, like others, were killed during this game. But, she didn't make the rules. Looking at the other 'living' kids, she sighed before standing near the 'dead' and waiting. 

"I...don' really understan' it, but I guess it means I won' remember shit, so why should I care, I guess? I'm to be...toyed with over an' over, completely against my will..."

She sighed and looked to Pascal. It was his fault she was going to be stuck here forever, but who was she to talk? She wouldn't remember this later. Additionally, it wasn't as if she was an integral part in all of this. Not...really.  

"You'll probably never remember us, bu' try. Because, some of us were less fortunate than ya'all. Because some'a us didn' give into despair: We were jus' at tha wron' place at tha wrong time...bye, then...."

None of what she said had meaning anyway. She would forget it, as would they. 

[onceuponatribulation-blog]

I'm going to cry tbh || WAKA AND AJAYA||

This… this was the end? All of that death and destruction lead up to this? It was almost strange to find out that your reality wasn’t even close to real. She was actually dead and all of this was some sort of punishment, it that’s what that was. The people she had met weren’t actually tangible, the hands that she used to craft the very elaborate outfit that was currently finished in her room weren’t real. That outfit never should have existed. This place was worse than she could have imagined.

The end had come on fast and had left Waka staring right into the void-er, light. Just a few feet forward and Waka would cease to exist. This wasn’t a dream, it wasn’t a nightmare (although at times it sure felt like one), it wasn’t even just a bad trip. This was the absolute end, like laying in a guillotine and just waiting for the blade to slam down but with less the mess. It was all some sort of farce, like they had dropped down the rabbit hole into this hellish setting and became storybook characters. These people were never actually people, just angels and illusions and soon to be nothing at all. It was times like this where Waka wanted to get all philosophical, but he was never that type of guy who could spurt out extravagant stringings of thoughts at the most appropriate moments. No, he was just a dick, and hopefully in whatever came after this, he would still be a dick.

Ajaya didn’t know why, but she suddenly wanted to not go through that light. Her whole life, she believed that she was going to go into a whole different life when she died and she was fine with that. At least that’s what she thought. Honestly, she didn’t know anymore. Would it really be too bad to stay here with the dead? Maybe it was wrong to fight nature, but god damn did she want to. At least she still had Yuki to look for in this new life. They could laugh like they used to and life could feign normality for the first time since she remembered getting her invitation to Hope’s Peak. She also had Waka- Waka! That’s right. She never answered him before. Monogoose interrupted her and then the whole angel thing happened. Maybe now was a good time…

“Waka? In answer to your question: yes. I would love to go somewhere with you after this.”

Really? Really??? He had finally scored a date and now they were about to be obliterated and reincarnated into fucking plants for all he knew. There would be no ‘going anywhere,’ no walks or laughing, no holding hands by a moonlight river or some romance novel setting. In the scheme of things this was all like his soaps. Tragic and it made him feel as if he wanted to cry and eat ice cream.

“Uh, toots- I mean, Ajaya. I hate to break it to you but… Is there even going to be an ’after?’ Not that I want to call it off or anythin’, I’m just… Honestly, I’m just really fucking scared. But hey, we can always have a date in Hell, right?”

Although she was nervous about what was to happen to both of them, she couldn’t help but giggle. Even at a time like this, he was still making jokes. What a guy.

“Daichi claimed to be an angel, do you really think he’d lie about this kind of thing? He’s got wings and everything, that is something that I really don’t feel like arguing with right now.” She gave him a shy smile and quickly fixed his crooked headphones. “I believe there is a good path for all of us, some day. Who knows? Maybe, if this is all true, everyone can be reborn and we’ll have to catch them up on everything that has happened. Sound good?”

“I mean, yeah, I guess you’re right but…” For once the boy who had words for everything was at a loss. He heaved a heavy sigh, wiped a bit of sweat off of his brow, and leaned down to her level just long enough to plant a quick peck on her cheek.His mouth curled up into what seemed to be a genuine smirk instead of the sadistic toothy grin he gave off before. “Yeah, it sounds good. Maybe then we can get along sooner or something. Maybe then you could also give me more trail mix for, y’know, nostalgia’s sake.”

Ajaya laughed again, louder this time. He gave her a kiss and then asked for food, truly childish behavior from the boy she loved. With an over-exaggerated sigh, she reached into one of her massive pockets and pulled out a granola bar. “Sorry, this is all I have. I suppose it will have to do.”

She took one of his hands and placed the bar in it delicately closed his fingers around it. “I was going to eat that originally but… I guess I don’t have to worry about my diabetes anymore.”

It was at that sentence that Waka started to tear up. Desperately trying not to let the tears flow, he unpinned the gaudy pink button from his jacket and repinned it onto one of her suspenders. “I know it’s gaudy or clashes or whatever you fashion folk say, but I guess I just want you to have something of mine too. It’s not as great as granola, but maybe something good will come of it, y’know?” Slowly he reached out to grab her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers shakily and awkwardly until his freckled skin was gently wrapped around hers. “I- uh...I gotta ask you something. It’s kind of a bad time but… I guess do you wanna like, be my girlfriend or something? It’s kinda rushed but...yeah. It is what it is.”

He was right about the pin being gaudy, but it didn’t really matter to her anymore. Okay, that was a lie; it was more the fact that the sentimental pros outweighed the fashion cons. “Yes, I would. I’ve waited a long time to hear that, Waka. I’m so glad that you survived. Well, we all technically didn’t survive but… I’m glad you are here with me.” It felt nice to have his warm hands around hers, a nice feeling that she wondered about since the third week they were here. All of her accumulated ideas didn’t even come close to how good it actually felt, however. He took one of her hands back and pushed some of the hair out of her face. Maybe Waka didn’t notice until that moment (Hell, she didn’t notice until that moment), but Ajaya was crying. Not enough to constitute sobbing but the amount of emotional things that had just happened somewhat excused it. “Damn, I’m going to ruin my mascara,” she chuckled as she attempted to wipe the tears from under her eyes.

Her tears only brought an influx of his. He let them stream down his freckled face as he gently squeezed her hand in his. He was past the point of caring about looking like a baby (facing oblivion was a rational reason to cry), he just kept feeling her soft skin against his hands and kept giving them light, pulsating squeezes as if to mimic a heartbeat. “I’m…. I’m so glad to hear that, all of that. I’m glad we made it as far as we could in this pit, and honestly I wouldn’t change a thing. Well, maybe the being in Limbo and facing unavoidable destruction of our physical forms part, and y’know the whole killing thing wasn’t so great either, but other than that everything was great. I’m glad I get to face the end with you, Ajaya Bhatt.”

The fashion designer wasn’t ready to face her end, but she seemed to be more prepared than him. She was used to the idea of reincarnation since she was little and right now seemed like the perfect time to say ‘I told you so’ and do a small dance but the mood wasn't right for that. She was also not wearing the right shoes to break it down or show off her moonwalk. That would have to wait for another time.

“Waka, I…” Words were failing her. It was so hard to get her feelings translated and now she decided that maybe this moment would be better if she didn’t force anything. Ajaya pulled on Waka’s collar and gave him one last kiss before glancing at the beckoning light. “I think it’s time.”

Tears still prominent in his ducts, Waka gave her a melancholy smile and ran his hands through her soft hair. “You’re probably right, Hell, you haven’t been wrong before, have you?” He gave her hair one last slow stroke before taking her hand-in-hand, fingers interlocked with white knuckles and sweaty shaking palms.

As they slowly made their way over to the warm light, the awkward fog around them seemed to be blown away. This was it, the end. Maybe just an end to this part of their lives, but an end none the less. Before Ajaya took that last step, she looked over to Waka and grinned through the tears.

“That date is still on, right?”

[onceuponatribulation-blog]

ごめんなさいが、俺は生きていましたな。 I Hikaru I Endgame

The moment that they were told they were correct, that they had found the Mastermind in Arisa... Hikaru felt some weight off his chest, collapsing a bit against his podium, a breath shaking his body as he felt himself grow dizzy. 

He listened of course, he had to listen to this. There was little else for him to want to do, to find out who had caused all of this. But his eyes were fixed to the floor, green eyes seeming slightly dull from the sheer number of things happening at once.

Yuki's outburst, only a small glance up as this continued. Ha had little to add to this and had had little to add before. 

And then the execution. They had voted for this, they had gone through these lots of times before. They had nothing new for this.

Hikaru refused to look, he couldn't bring himself to handle this again. And this would be the last of them right? 

This would be the last execution. And this person really deserved it.

Monogoose started speaking once more though, the words didn't quite feel like the horrible things usual tone even to he who wasn't paying the best of attention. Feeling not even the drive to be afraid of the thing at this point he glanced up just slightly. Eyes falling on the face the coffins had vanished.

All those who had died...

Were back... Right?

Hikaru's eyes grew wide as he felt tears sting up in the corners of them. He could see them all, alive... Right there.

Or so he'd thought as some naive thought as the explanation soon came, in the familiar voice of his best friend. 

They were all dead. Each and every one of them. Died long ago. 

Hikaru didn't want to believe a word that he was hearing. Not a single word. Fear was a driving force in his mind, and he was afraid then of what would happen. And of whatever had happened. They had died right? Something horrible had to have happened... A small glance to the arm that had lost it's sleeve.

But with everything that had happened...

Hikaru's hands moved to cover his face, still slouched over the podium as he tried to think of something. Anything. That he could say.

"This round I’m losing… my best friend and my right hand man. That’s rather unfortunate.”

It was at those words that the Tarot Card Reader's exhaustion seemed to vanish if for the moment. It hadn't been until that moment that he realized what was going to happen. 

None of them would be able to see each other again. They had lived with the hope that they could get out of here and now they wouldn't even be able to enjoy it again. But with how it sounded this was the better of the two options.

He looked up. He didn't want to lose anyone of them again. But there was nothing that he could do was there?

"I-I..."

He choked up words, trying to form some kind of sentence. Strong emotions were never his strong suit, he held himself in a objective to everything to stop it from taking over himself. And here he was.

"I-I'm..."

He repeated one more. They were being told to leave. To vanish as the next round is to begin. They were apparently free.

Hanako always said that the last thing someone would want to remember is smiling. No matter what, you want to remember something happy. Even if in this place the memory does fade... 

He tried to force a small smile, tears falling down his cheeks.

"I-I guess this is g-goodbye huh...?"

No part of him wanted to say something like that.

"F-Fujimoto-san... I-I'm sorry..."

He felt his breath catch for a moment as he tried to keep speaking. But despite his attempts that's all he could get himself to actually get out of his mouth. That's all he could really do in the end. 

Who know show many times during this that he had felt helpless and clueless as to what he was supposed to say or do. Add this one to that list, there where no words that came to mind, nothing. Because none of it really would matter right? 

So, with that a fact in his head he simply nodded as he turned and took but a moment to go through the gate.

[onceuponatribulation-blog]

Nothing Hurts Like The Truth- Pascal [FINALE]

All of the emotions inside Pascal, anger, hate, sadness, guilt, hope, longing, relief, all of them built up silently. As Arisa gave her final speech, had her final execution, he couldn't say anything, couldn't think of anything that would be worth saying. Yuki and Arisa said it all, didn't they? Pascal was scum, a lowlife murderer, but he'd survived, and he would carry on his duty to deliver his victims' dying wishes as he'd promised....

But then, everything changed.

Every single emotion, every feeling that had been boiling up, suddenly escaped Pascal. He felt... numb. In shock. Disbelieving everything he was hearing. It wasn't possible, right...? None of this, none of it could be real... but it was, wasn't it? He knew. He could feel, it had to be.

How many times had he lived through this game, how many times had he been executed or murdered? He didn't know. But he knew he'd been through it before. How many times had he lost Ricardo? Kohaku? How many times had he even known them? How often had he been the mastermind, the mole, if ever? His mind swam with questions, things he'd never know the answers to, but there was one big question that stood out amongst the others:

Pascal had survived... but he was already dead, and now he’d be reborn, forgetting all of this? Everything he’d been through, all that he’d done?

His feelings clashed and conflicted. He didn’t know what to make of it. Did he even deserve to be reincarnated this round? He’d given into the motive, killed so he could escape, and then he threw his chance away to stay with Ricardo. And now, after all that effort to stay by his side, he’d forget about him anyways.

On one hand, he felt immensely guilty. He didn't deserve to get a new life, while the people who suffered because of him would be forced to repeat the situation eternally until they finally survived and were able to be reborn as well. He was more sinful than anyone else who’d made it through, yet he still was going to receive the same privileges as the ones who’d remained pure and hopeful. It didn't seem right, didn’t seem fair; Pascal believed he deserved to be punished, go to hell rather than a new life. Then again, everything he’d been through these past few months already seemed like hell, didn’t they?

On the other hand, he was relieved. He was glad that he was getting a chance at another life, a chance to start over. Even if he wouldn't remember it, he was glad he didn’t have to live through the sick mutual killing game again. He’d be reborn, as a new person, a chance to be much better than he was. He could have a fresh start, free of his past sins. He was starting to hate himself, and this was a welcome opportunity to restart.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained… You reap what you sow… You have to take the good with the bad… All the old proverbs his mother had taught him echoed in Pascal’s head, and he couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle, pushing his hair back. Those silly old sayings were truer than he’d given thought to. His mother was probably dead too, huh, if the world was as bad as it sounded…? Well, he’d forget about that soon enough. He’d have a new mother, a new family. But there would be one person missing, the one person he didn’t want to forget above all else…

Ricardo. His one true love… he’d be moving on to the next life with him. But he wouldn’t remember, would he? Pascal had to hold on to the hope that they could meet again. That in the next life, even if they didn’t remember each other, they’d be reunited, maybe fall in love again. He prayed, one of the only times he ever prayed in his existence, that it could be so.

He knew he had to move on. It was time to go. It wasn’t like he had much of a choice, did he?

Pascal turned to Ricardo, a small grin on his face, voice somewhat shaky, resigned yet determined at the same time.

“Oy, Ricardo… I love you. More than anything. In the next life… let’s meet again. I promise I’ll find you.”

And with that, he began slowly walking towards the gate. He didn’t speak to anyone else… he couldn’t think of anything to say, anyone to say it to.

He just walked forward, one step at a time, into the light. After all, he had nowhere else to go.

[onceuponatribulation-blog]

Fuck you all I'm out [Ricardo] |Execution+Endgame Reaction| {END}

“…”

Ricardo could simply just stare as the trial ended and Arisa started her ‘monolouge’ before her death. His eyes squinted at some of the information and looked away, gritting his teeth as he continued to listen either way, when she stopped speaking, he knew it was time. He looked back to the centre of the stands.

He was going to watch this, always respect the dead, even if they were a mastermind that forced them all to kill each other.

This time around as the execution played in front of his eyes, he didn’t flinch, cry, and scream. He took it all in with a hard expression on his face and tense shoulders. Feeling still sick to the stomach.

…

So, what now?

Ricardo was going to speak up to ask when suddenly Monogoose spoke, and a lot softer now. Ricardo’s eyes narrowed as he cocked up one of his eyebrows in confusion-

His eyes widened.

He looked around in shock as he saw all the dead….alive….around them all…he was almost happy, but in this kingdom, nothing was always ‘happy’ without it being ruined. So he had to just bite his lip and look back to the centre to face Daichi…wait…what?

Ricardo expression grew from shock to horror and towards anger as Daichi explained, white wings sprouting out of his back. And once he finished, Ricardo was shaking in fury as Daichi told them to follow him and all Ricardo do was slam his hands on his stand, speaking up.

“You know what? Go fuck yourself, Wauna, Saraas, you too Daichi, you can all go fuck yourselves”

His eyes narrowed dangerously, “Angels? Give me a fucking break, you guys are sick, crazy, stupid!” he gripped at his stand as he lent forward. “First of all, the human mind doesn’t fucking work like that. Of course we fell in despair, what else do you expect if you use our already agitated minds and twist them until we’re pretty much in your control!” Ricardo closed his eyes.

“Psychology is a fucking thing, and it’s hard to fucking fight it, it’s almost impossible for a lot of people, so don’t give us shit, we had a choice? We had a fucking choice? Go fuck a cactus you shitty ass angels!”

Ricardo opened his eyes, shoulders trembling. “Some of us did succeed on doing that, some of them hadn’t fallen into despair yet, they were still clinging on hope, they grew and supported us- but because they were killed because of some fucking shitty reason, they don’t get to move on? What the fuck is wrong with you? If you were talking about people moving on, Anaki should go instead of me, for example!”

Ricardo’s hands left the stand finally as he gripped at his shirt, his face twisting into one of pain. “This is so unfair…this is so fucking unfair….!” He hissed out, he looked up at Monogoose and Daichi. “Either way, this is a fucking lose-lose situation, all what we learnt, all the memories we had. We won’t remember it, so what will be the fucking point in this? We won’t have learnt shit nothing, we won’t have something to fall back on when making the decision of doing something like this again! And then there’s the fact that if we were born in the same environment and same appearance, at least for me, I’ll just end up being the same fucking person- which is pointless- and you can forget being reborn as someone different. My name is Ricardo Montagnola. And I won’t have my identity ripped away from me, no...just no…”

At this point, Ricardo was just rambling on now, shoulders shaking in anger; but when he started seeing people go, his rambling turned into nothing as he stared with wide eyes.

No…no…nonononono….!

Ricardo gripped as his hair as he closed his eyes. He wanted to say so much…but…it would just be a waste of breath, like what he said until now. It wasn’t going to change anything, and that was what truly sucked.

He took a deep breath in, no…no he won’t let that stop him, if he couldn’t complain, might as well say some other things.

“Anaki!” he called out, not waiting for any response. “You were my hero Anaki, thank you for being one of the best friends I ever had, for believing in me” he then quickly turned to Min-yun. “Sorellona, you will always mean the world to me, even if I can’t remember you. Thank you. Thank you for showing me who I truly was, what had happened to me, I love you a whole lot Min-yun” with that he turned to Yuki. “I…sorry, that’s all I can say…we’ve been through a lot…and just…I don’t know…I…I’ll miss you, does that work?” he scratched his head and turned to Mia. “You, I hate, or…well…I hated. There’s not point now is there? I wanted to apologize, even if it won’t do much, for my actions. I’m not saying you were right, because I do deserve to exist, and I’m not a monster, whatever you might think” Ricardo glanced over to Kohaku, biting his lip and starting to speak once again. “I…I’m sorry this happened, and I’m sorry I kept moving on without you, it was so horrible of me. And the fact that you…kept helping me when I was completely distraught…thank you Kohaku, seriously…thank you” Ricardo smiled softly, glancing at Kazuma, his eyes growing softer. “That…last goodbye was a bit lame, wasn’t it?” he chuckled weakly. “Thank you…for being my best bro, thank you for being there and believing me in the end…I wish this hadn’t happened…I…good luck out there bro, I’ll be cheering you on somehow…!” Ricardo let out a breathless sigh as he turned to face Etnis. “Etnis, or Etna. I considering you another close friend of mine, even if you diiid steal my first kiss” he let out an awkward broken laugh, his grip on his hair becoming looser. “That letter you sent me, it meant a lot. More than you can imagine, and no matter how much you think I didn’t actually care about you, I did. I really…really did. Keep fighting on, for me at least, ok?” Ricardo’s eyes stopped at Leilani and his eyes seemed to gloss over. “Leilani…I love you, a whole lot…I…you’ll always be my Dead Field Lily Lei…! I…!” Ricardo seemed to tense up as he was obviously trying not to break down here. “You stopped me from stupid things, despite of how many horrible things I did to you…I seriously hope we get to see each other someway in the next life, I’ll treat you to some of my cooking if I’m still good…!” He smiled softly at her, eyes softening up and then finally turned towards Pascal.

“…This…is really hard…” Ricardo finally admitted, his voice strained. “I really want to kiss you and hold your hand and just hug you… but we won’t be able to, and just…this is so unfair I…I…” Ricardo’s hands quickly shot down to wipe furiously at his eyes. “I know…we did something bad...but…I wanted to at least remember the good times between us, because I….love you…I really, really, really love you. And…a-and…I’m going to try and find you in the next life, I bet we will as well, I just…thank you…and I love you…”

Ricardo took a deep breath, and finally face everyone that was remaining. “Well, I’m off I guess”

Ricardo left his stand and started walking towards the gate when he suddenly stopped near it, turning back around, turning his attention to Monogoose, Swanami and Daichi. “You know, if you guys are behind this, I hope you guys never get out of here” with that he let out a grin, sticking up both his middle fingers and held them up high so everyone could see as he walked backwards through the gate. “I’ll see you all somehow in the next life, I won’t forget, and if I do, I will force myself to remember. Good luck-!”

And just like that, Ricardo was gone.

Ricardo Montagnola,  the SHSL Venetian Carnivalist, has survived the game of mutual killing.

[onceuponatribulation-blog]

Flying Home | Mia | Endgame ATTN: Daichi

And so, all of that happened.

 Mia hardly had any words for all that happened. Yeah, she was super on board to have Arisa die, but not so much for everything that happened afterwards. Well, with the exception of one detail.

 She felt herself phase into the physical world immediately, and instead of questioning it, she ran forward, throwing her arms around Yuki, pulling them into her chest, and holding them there. No tears, no anything. She was just so happy, the game had ended. Yuki survived, if this was any indication of what was happening, if the fact that she had just phased back into this realm meant anything, it meant she had somehow survived.

 It meant she and Yuki were going home together.

 However, as time went on and things became more and more complicated, an odd sensation bubbled within Mia.

 Daichi...an angel? She was dead before all this? Yuki was...Chiyo was...

 The emotions she felt in her were so...raw. It meant that...that she couldn't leave? That'd she'd have to do this again? That...that she...

 And then the next moment, she was flying at Daichi, fists flying towards him only to ricochet off of some sort of barrier. Good, if it wasn't there, Mia would've torn him to literal shreds.

"S***! S*** AND A HALF! MOTHER F***IN TAPDANCIN' C*** ON A W****!YOU BIRD S*** STAIN F***IN' A** F***! YA LOUSY NO GOOD C*** OF A B****! YA CALL YERSELF AN' ANGEL BUT I CAN VERIFY THAT F***IN' SATAN'S BETTER THAN YA!"

Another fist to the barrier, a fresh spurt of blood came from Mia's knuckles. She could hear the bones popping out of place, but she cared little for that.

 So many chances she gave Daichi, when in all truth it ended up being him. Arisa wasn't the mastermind.

 Daichi Fujimoto was.

 "Y' don't--ya don't even know what yer doin' f*** fart! YER th' one puttin' us through death an' death 'gain an' fer what?! FER US TO SUFFER THIS PAIN 'GAIN AN' 'GAIN!"

"AN' DON'T YA GET IT?! Yer sayin' two murderas are better off livin' in th' world than us?! I AIN'T DONE NOTHIN' WRONG! I SAVED THEM TWO MOTHERF***IN C***S! An' what 'bout th' victims?! What 'bout Seph, Koe, 'naki 'n Mimi?! They didn't do nothin' wrong an' they gotta do this again?!"

"This ain't Purgatory, this is HELL!"

"I-I--"

 And then, it happened, finally. Mia's tear ducts gave in, tears burst from her eyes as if she were bleeding the salty pain.

"I-I WANNA GO HOME! I WANNA SEE M' GRAMPS AGAIN!"

 And she collapsed to the ground, laying one final smash to Daichi's forcefield.

 Oh, look at that. The hands Daichi had given Anaki, Renee, and Kazuma up for were now disjointed and bleeding, bending in unnatural ways. Oh well, what did she need hands for in hell?

 She glanced up to that light previously mentioned. It was a lot closer than she remembered it being, and Daichi a lot further away than she remembered as well. Not that their perspectives really mattered at all.

 But wow she was tired...

 Tired...

 Why not give in to this sensation and allow her legs to carry her? To continue her circle in the never-ending cycle?

 Hadn't the rabbis always described the enveloping light at the end of the tunnel to be a pleasant thing?

 But hadn't the rabbis also told her that hell didn't exist?

[onceuponatribulation-blog]

Are you Sure you want to Restart the Computer? | Anaki | Endgame

They did it...Yuki...Ricardo...they all did it. They'd make it out...they'd...

She could barely even stand to look at Arisa when she turned, when she finally showed her true colors. The sheer hatred she felt couldn't even be measured...as she stared at the execution, she wished for it to go slower....and slower...she wanted this girl to feel the pain she'd caused so many others. She didn't care about the sob story, she didn't care one fucking bit. What? So Anaki's shitty past would justify this? No...no way.

The next thing she knew, however, Arisa was dead. The goose was speaking and....she was there. She was with her classmates again. For a few fleeting moments, she wondered if maybe she was right about her whole Matrix theory...maybe they could all come back...maybe--

.........dead? Dead...?

Her eyes fell on Mia...Min-yun....Ricardo...Yuki....they'd all been dead this whole time...? She'd been dead this whole time...? She opened her mouth to speak, but found herself entirely speechless. She stared down at her trembling hands, feeling the sting of tears once again reach her eyes.

Even if she'd lived...she wouldn't have gotten to have that movie marathon with her friends. Even if she lived...she wouldn't get to show Ricardo V for Vendetta. Even if she lived, she wouldn't have gotten to be challenged to eat a ghost pepper by Yuki. If she survived, she wouldn't get to tell Min-yun's band about everything. This was all pointless...this was all for absolutely nothing. She...she couldn't give a damn about who she would have been in another life...she wanted her life. But even if she fought harder, even if she survived, she would never have that life again.

....if she survived...she still never would get to hug her mother again. She still would have never heard that soft, warm voice whisper how proud she was of her. She would never get to hear that laugh, smell the air of Kabukicho, feel the worn fabric of the couch and the soft blankets that they wrapped themselves up in to watch movies together....

For all she knew...her mother was dead too. And even if she was miraculously alive...she was alone. She was in a world of despair, and entirely alone.

There never was any hope to begin with. And now...she'd do it all again. And again....and again...maybe she'd be the one to orchestrate...maybe she already had been. She looked at Yuki again....and at Ricardo....two of the best friends she could have ever wished for in her life. She was going to forget...they were going to forget...and there would never be a chance to relive it. Tears freely streamed down her face now...she didn't care who saw, not like any of them would remember it anyway. She wouldn't even remember it now.

".....you two....h-have good lives...whatever the hell happens...."

Her voice broke...she wasn't sure if they heard her. Maybe she was muttering it to herself, who even knows anymore.

She slowly began walking toward the gate, her expression filled with sorrow. She could hear all of the old conversations she'd had with her friends here...the laughing, jokes, secrets...she remembered spilling her heart out to these people and trusting them...feeling like she belonged for once, feeling like she'd made a difference...

She didn't want to forget. Her feet stopped carrying her, and the unbreakable Anaki fell to her knees.

"........I don't wanna forget....I....I don't want t' do this again."

She lowered her head into her hands, feeling as if this might be the last human moment she could ever experience.

"....mom....I....jus' wanted to see you again....'s never gonna happen, is it...? You're never gonna...see how good I did....'n...I'm never gonna....get t' tell you that I love you. An'.....you're never gonna...get t' call me your hero....'r....Hiro...."

Her shuddering breaths came out and she gripped her fingers through her hair, letting out a heartwrenching sob at this thought. How many times had she gone through this? How many friends had she made that survived and moved on without her? How many times was she killed? How many people did she kill? How many times did she lost her goddamn mind? It didn't matter anymore...nothing mattered. Maybe if she just remained kneeling here like this, she wouldn't have to go to the next game. Maybe her memories would stay...maybe she'd wake up in her apartment and it would all be some horrible dream. 

But her legs betrayed her after a short while and, once she managed to wipe away her tears, they forced her to stand and walk toward the gate. She had no choice....she never had a fucking choice.

.....I love you, mom....'m sorry for whatever I did...an' whatever I may do....

And with one final glance to her classmates, those who would reincarnate and those who would be forced into another game, her expression miserable and lost.

"............bye guys....good luck......."

She said softly, before her feet carried her through the gate and away from this game....for now.

[onceuponatribulation-blog]

What Matters Most is How Well You Walk Through the Fire | Yuki | Endgame

That's it then, it's over. A part of Yuki had thought they'd be relieved to see that metal collar snap around Arisa's neck, thought they'd take some pleasure in seeing her die. Her final words to them don't even register, they see her lips moving, hear the sound, but they're too far beyond caring, too determined to see it end. And when the execution is over and the screens switch off the soft drip of Arisa Sato- no, Arisa Aberforth's blood coming off the slide... Yuki doesn't feel triumphant or righteous or relieved. They don't feel much of anything, really.

Except exhausted. Hollow. Drained. For a moment their fire had come back to them, and even now they grasp at the tendrils of hope they'd scraped together, built up from the memories of those they'd lost, their friends, their loved ones, who would have wanted them to keep fighting.

At last, it's over.

But it isn't. Of course it isn't. They could never be that lucky. No sooner has Yuki caught their breath, let the pounding in their ears fade, begun to feel aware of the world around them again when suddenly Monogoose has summoned a host of the dead. Yuki blinks, at a loss, and they're too spent to do more than listen as Daichi steps forward...

...

It's... all a joke. If Yuki had more energy, if they had the confidence, the drive, the fury they'd had at the beginning of this game, maybe they could have fallen back on denial. Maybe they could've pulled up anger or sadness, maybe they could've really felt the pain. But that's all gone now, and just when they'd started to think maybe they could get their feet under them and find a way to move on, for Anaki's sake, for Kazuma's, for Simon's, for everyone... this happens. It feels like a rug has been yanked out from under them.

Dead. Dead all along. All of them.

What's the fucking point of it?

A strangled noise that sounds almost like a soft shriek of laughter escapes Yuki's lips, their shoulders shake with repressed hysteria. Their hand moves to one of their pockets, withdraws something- a flash of metal. Daichi's revolver. Yuki stares down at it as if they can't figure out what it's for. Or maybe like they're trying to decide.

There is no point. There's no way to win, there never was.

And, god, they're so tired.

Yuki drops the gun without cocking it, leaves it in the dirt and, without saying a word, without looking at anyone- it doesn't matter, does it? In a moment none of them will remember one another and they won't even fucking exist- they move towards the North Gate. And through it.

Anyone watching them would notice that at the very last second, just as they disappeared into the light, they looked back. And their fingers were touching the skull charm around their neck.

[onceuponatribulation-blog]

Just as a concerned and somewhat dissatisfied viewer reading the denouement, I have some questions. It seems that only the survivors of the game get to 'move on', due to not giving into despair, but strictly speaking only the murderers did. Why do the victims have to repeat this game? Why do those mistrialed on have to? And with memories being erased, doesn't that make all the relationships people formed meaningless? Will the students ever get these memories and bonds back?

It's less about not giving into despair than surviving despair. My personal headcanon is that it's less of a moral test than a spiritual roadblock that the students have to overcome. As for the reincarnation, no, all the surviving students and all the ones that survive afterwords will be reborn as new people. In my personal feelings, however, that doesn't make the bonds and friendships made here meaningless. Just because you don't remember something doesn't make it unimportant. Even if the students don't remember the people that move on, or the previous games when they worked together and helped each other and grew close, doesn't mean that it didn't happen, that it didn't matter. It helps to think of this game as part of the larger story of multiple games, where, as Yuki said, people find strength in their friends, dead or alive, and ultimately beat that round's mastermind. I plan on making a longer post on this once the game properly ends.

That said, I understand that many people are unsatisfied with the ending. I'm very sorry about that. The knowledge that people may walk away from the game feeling unhappy has been weighing on me heavily, to the point where I'm starting to make myself ill. I think that making this post will help me to feel better, however.

The simple fact is that while this kind of plot would have always left some people unhappy, it could have been handled much, much better. OUT as a game has been riddled with OOC problems-- of the five mods that we started with, only two actively participated, Huong and Kay both had severe personal issues during this game, and when Huong made the decision to go on hiatus for her own mental and physical health (which I and everyone else are very glad she did), things became chaotic. Endgame itself has been a technical nightmare to put together, and all of this conspired to really fuck us over. I'm relieved and proud that we managed to complete the game at all, especially since, ending aside, almost all of our players have told us that they adore OUT, and consider it one of the best games they've been in. That means a lot.

OUT2 will be better. We've learned a lot from the mistakes of OUT1, and we hope that despite your feelings on this ending, you'll understand the difficulties we faced and join us for the next game.

Thank you for sending in your concerns politely. Some people involved with endgame have been sent hatemail, and even if I stressed over how to answer this ask, I'm glad that I did.

[onceuponatribulation-blog]

♛ Notice to Players

Submissions will remain open for 48 hours. All submissions will be posted on Friday, at 12AM EST. Please keep your submission self-contained, and end it with your character walking through the North Gate.

Thank you for participating in such an awesome game!

[onceuponatribulation-blog]

"Endgame" - Denouement

♪♪♪ Listen Here ♪♪♪

"And that’s it, dovelies. The game is over. You’re free. I’m proud of all of you."

Monogoose beamed, seeming strangely out of character.

"As Arisa said, there is more to this story. But just as I promised, all will be explained. But first--"

She raised a wing, and there was a flash of bright, white light. When it dissipated all of the coffins in the square were gone-- replaced by the students themselves. All 31 students were gathered in Briar Square for the first time-- even the newly deceased Arisa. Foerlie appeared at Daichi’s podium, strangely, while Daichi himself appeared in the center.

"Before you all kick up a fuss, let me-- let us explain. Daichi? Would you like to handle this?"

Daichi nodded, standing tall and placing his hands behind his back.

"First off... let me say congratulations! We have made it through the game once again. Well, this is the first time for some of you."

He looked around, making eye contact with each and every student.

"“I suppose I should start at the beginning. In a time when the world was still at peace, everyone here received an invitation to one of the greatest educational institutions ever established- Hope’s Peak Academy. No, that isn't right. Everyone here besides one person received an invitation. There’s one person who never made the cut… and that is myself. But I digress, that detail isn't important right now.”

"During your stay at Hope’s Peak, something terrible happened. ‘The Most Despair Inducing Incident in the History of Mankind’-- Despair took hold of the world, sending its inhabitants into chaos and fear. Many people died during this time… including yourselves. None of you reached the school before succumbing to despair and perishing. In other words, everyone here is dead."

Daichi turned his attention in the direction of where the Bakery is located, as if staring past the wall to get a good view of the building.

"All the people you have met here are dead. Every single student, every single person who has helped or hindered you, drew their last breath long ago. It would be appropriate to call Märchen Kingdom ‘Purgatory’. There are only three people who are not lost souls like yourselves and the others. Wauna, Saaras… and myself. We are Angels."

 Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, wings appeared on his back.

"Every single game I participate in my memories are wiped clean to keep me from making decisions based off of previous games. The only thing I am given when I awake with everyone is that I am ‘the agent’, everyone here is dead, and that my mission is to find the Mastermind at all costs. Granted, my methods aren't always the most… orthodox."

He smiled sadly, looking at Mia.

"I am a being that has no desire to hurt others. When Wauna subjected everyone to punishment because of my misworded bargain I was crushed. When I placed a gun to your temple I would have never pulled the trigger. You were wrong, Mia. Of course I cared about what everyone was going through. I also had a mission to follow, to find Hellfire with the least amount of casualties. I wanted you to help me with that! I… I went about it the wrong way. I realize this now and I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I wasn't much help this round."

He turned his attention back to the rest of the group, straightening his posture and placing his hands behind his back.

"Like I said before, many of you have played this game before while its the first time for others. Ten of you have won this round, while twenty have lost. Not as many winners as last time but hey, could have been worse. There are some here that have played this game numerous times, continuously losing."

A sad look passed briefly over his face once more as he glanced in Renée's direction, quickly looking away.

"All memories are wiped at the beginning of the next game. You all are asking ‘But why? What’s the point? Why do we have to kill each other?’. The truth is that none of you had to kill. Every motive that was given was option. There was never a kill or die situation. Every single motive could have been either stopped or ignored. Nakashima-san never needed a wish, we could have lived with the truth serum, the recording of the screams could have been turned off, we could have ignored the voices in our heads, we didn’t need to escape, and we could have lived with the dead suffering, as heartless at it may sound. The well being of the living was never in jeopardy but instead we acted on these motives and killed one another. Many of us fell victim to Despair."

Daichi shifted his attention to Arisa.

"Every game has a ‘Mastermind’ and a ‘Mole’ who helps them. Do not hate Arisa for her actions-- many of you have played the role of Mastermind before her. This game is based off of the one that the survivors of the incident had to live through. You all have died in Despair. To win the game, to be reborn back into the world and have a second chance at life, you must overcome Despair and beat the odds by staying alive. Many of you survived, clinging onto Hope. You have won the game! As such, this will be the last time you have to play. You have reached the end of your journey and are free to be reborn again. Before anyone asks- No, you can’t stay if you have won. As much as I wish I could keep everyone together, to stay with those I have learned to call ‘my friends’.... it’s time for you to go. It’s time for you to start over anew. As for those who have lost, we will meet again soon. This round I’m losing… my best friend and my right hand man. That’s rather unfortunate."

He smiled sadly once more.

"...Our time together is drawing to a close. The next game, the next life, lies beyond the doors. Please, when you’re ready, follow me."

Daichi turned to face the North Gate, which Monogirl and Swanami are now standing to the side of. For the first time, it was unlocked, and standing open. Beyond it was a bright, white light, which was soothing to look at, despite it's intensity. It seemed to draw the students closer, beckoning them to step through.

[onceuponatribulation-blog]

"Endgame" - An Agent of Despair

Arisa’s eyes lit up at Yuki's statement. “That’s exactly where I plan to go.  Hope to see you there.” She gave a small, quick salute to everyone left standing in the courtroom. And before another moment had passed, she was yanked backwards to her fate.

Darkness fell around the circle of podiums, where once upon a time 30 students had stood.  A light appeared on the screen, and like an old television it grew from a dot to fill the whole expanse.  It seemed to show an expanded laboratory scene of some sort, and Arisa had been dropped into a petri dish sitting on a vast plastic counter.

Above the microbiologist’s head hovered a metal inoculation loop, like she had been so fond of keeping on her person before.  We’ve found it!,  a voice boomed out over her head, and around the square. We’ve found the cause of despair!  And we’ve isolated the pathogen!  It’s amazing, isn’t it?

Arisa fidgeted in the petri dish, looking up at the loop over her head.  “Well? Are you going to come take me?”  She called up at it.  “I’m right here! Everyone’s isolated me, just as expected!”

Her words seemed to have little effect, as halfway through the sentence the loop swooped down and picked her up on the end.  Arisa gripped it with all her strength to keep from falling off before she was deposited where she belonged: a glass slide.  To anyone who had ever stepped inside a lab or used a microscope, it would slowly become obvious where this was going.  She was placed on the slide and a piece of glass lowered down over her head.

This was a compromising situation, forcing Arisa to slowly but surely lie down on the slide.  Now Arisa had been flattened between the two pieces of glass.  A flare of panic crossed her expression before it neutralized again.  Drops of pink and purple liquid were dropped onto the glass behind her, and she was suddenly moved up into what was unmistakably a great oversized microscope.

The slide of Arisa was clipped into place on the monochromatic microscope.  We have to get a closer look! With a heavy metallic click, the stage upon which the Arisa's slide rested began to move slowly upwards. Arisa seemed to be smiling, perhaps even laughing, but the click of the machine was the only thing that could be heard.

Over her head, the giant lens slowly rotated around.  It went from a shorter one to a longer one, closing up a significant gap as she ticked ever upwards.  The scientist’s hands balled into fists underneath the glass.  She would not stop rising, would she?

One last time, the lens changed.  It was even longer, making the distance between the glass and the lens far shorter.  Her time was ticking away.

With the sickening shatter of glass and bone, the slide suddenly made grinding contact with the lens.  Pink blood gushed from the slide and dripped off the stage, though Arisa’s hands were still visible out the edges. They had gone slack, the sadistic microbiologist killed in an instant. Her silken red ribbon, which had stuck out from the slide, now slipped out from between the bloodied glass cracks of the slide.  A spotlight shown harshly down on the scene of the execution that had just taken place. Pathogen successfully identified!  I believe we can neutralize it.

Arisa Sato, Super High School Level Microbiologist and Mastermind of Mutual Killing, has been executed.

[onceuponatribulation-blog]

"Endgame" - Unfinished Business

Monogoose interrupted the pair, clucking in a way that was half bird and half concerned mother.

"Now now, dovlies, no need to throw insults. The game is almost over, and as soon as it is everything will be explained. You've all done your part, all that’s left is the final execution."

She turned and looked Arisa square in the eye.

"Rules are rules, after all."

And with those words, the metal collar reached out and snapped around Arisa's neck.